The holiday for sweethearts has prompted a warning from law enforcement about a growing wave of online romance scams in Arizona.
The FBIβs Phoenix branch, which also covers Tucson, is marking Valentineβs Day with an advisory about the scheme β also known as catfishing β in which swindlers with fake social media profiles try to lure victims into love relationships in hopes of stealing their money and personal information.
About 650 Arizona residents fell victim last year to what the FBI classifies as βromance/confidence scams,β agency data shows.
The total includes both romance scams and other fraud schemes that toy with peopleβs affections, such as one in which grandparents receive fictitious demands for money to bail a grandchild out of jail.
Together, the Arizona victims lost a total of almost $21 million last year, a 75% increase over 2020 when total losses were around $12 million, the data shows.
The FBI could not provide statistics specific to Tucson and Pima County, but agency spokeswoman Brooke Brennan said βthere are victims all across the state.β
According to the U.S. Army, many perpetrators pose as American troops.
βArmy Criminal Investigation Command receives hundreds of reports a month from individuals who have fallen victim to a scam perpetrated by a person impersonating a U.S. soldier online,β the serviceβs website says.
Older people also are targets, the American Association of Retired Persons says.
βThe older the target, the heavier the financial toll,β the groupβs website says. It cites federal data showing a median financial loss of $9,475 for victims 70 and older, compared to a $2,500 median loss for all age groups.
The FBI has some tips for avoiding trouble. Among them:
Research photos and profiles by using online searches to see if the same words and images have been used elsewhere.
Never provide financial information or loan money to anyone you donβt know personally. Do not allow your bank accounts to be used for transfers of funds.
Be leery of anyone who seems too perfect or moves too fast, for example by quickly asking to leave a social media site and meet up βoffline.β
Be suspicious when someone promises to meet up in person but repeatedly makes excuses for why they canβt.
The agency says romance scam cases may be underreported because victims often feel sheepish when the lies eventually comes to light, an FBI news release said.
βVictims may be hesitant to report being taken advantage of due to embarrassment, shame or humiliation,β it said, but βromance scams can happen to anyone.β
